456 manual conversion

On the BMW of your dreams it may be doable but not on a 456, at least not economically. It would be very costly I think - gearboxes are around 3000-4000 euro, you will need a flywheel, clutch cover, possibly also a complete driveshaft tube, a shifting console that won't be very cheap to find, pedals, and there is a whole range of other parts you will need to convert as so many parts are different between the manual and automatic. Look on the Eurospares website and start comparing, you'll be amazed at how many differences there are, even in trunk floor, wiring, bumper, etc. While maybe not all are needed to make it work, they are if you want to make it work as well as it to be 'right'. This is probably only viable if you have a cheap totaled 456 next to it.

And when the day arrives to sell it, buyers will be frowning.

Would make a hell of a project though - please please please post pictures

 

Given that on the manual the gearbox is in the transaxle; you will have to add a clutch pedal and master cylinder, clutch and slave cylinder, different bell housing and perhaps a different propshaft as that, I would think is a different length as there is no gearbox at the engine end, plus a different bell housing .... It an't going to be cheap!!!!

 

Forget it! Keep looking for a manual.

 

There are 456M manuals out there, but you can't be picky about the paint or interior colors and expect to pay about a $15,000 premium.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=305675812&dealer_id=66585931&car_year=1999&systime=&doors=&model=456MGT&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1323319192758&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=PORTLAND_OR&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=Manual&default_sort=&max_mileage=&color=&address=97221&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=FER&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=2639&standard=false

(strange that the only picture is osf the PPG label!)


another!!
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=78751600&listingRecNum=0&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26alMdId%3D20480%26mkId%3D20014%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D20480%26rd%3D100000%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-transTypeId%26zc%3D97221%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26alMkId%3D20014%26transTypeId%3D28112%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national

 

Ferrari didnt just "make them", its the US market that requested these.

 

This car has a salvage title from engine damage


another!!
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=78751600&listingRecNum=0&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26alMdId%3D20480%26mkId%3D20014%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D20480%26rd%3D100000%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-transTypeId%26zc%3D97221%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26alMkId%3D20014%26transTypeId%3D28112%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national[/QUOTE]

 

I think I read somewhere that in the 6 years they made the MGT only ~420 were made in RHD. That's only 70/year or so...

Anyone have accurate data?

 

Even the ECUs are different... There are lots of them with manual transmission in Europe. Could you import one into the US?

 

456's are cheap as dirt for what you get. People are not enamorded by the lack of "in your face" styling or the 4 passenger stigma. But I think the 456 is a great V12 and the most bang for the buck in that class. I think a 456 auto could be awesome if the guts of the box really are some kind of electronic GM4L??? box. If so then GM paddle technology might be able to be adopted. The C6 auto paddle box can shift at 100ms with a tune about twice as long as the 458 in sportmode. It can also be programmed to lock a gear all the way into redline. That is awesome and cheap run forever with no breakdown GM autobox. I think it would be possible to put a vette torquetube and autobox in a 456 and would make a nice project. I also think it would be possible to outfit a vette mn12 6 speed in as well.

 

Isnt the 456 autobox a GM box(cadillac internals with a different case)? Maybe thats too simple a description.

 

yes I have heard rumors to that effect. Like 4L80T for transverse or something like that. At the time 4L60E and 4L80E were popular boxes in the GM line for 8 cylinder cars/trucks.

 

It can even be fun. Yesterday, I was on the expressway behind a car doing 60; pulled into the passing lane and mashed the throttle; it kicked down to second and let out a hellacious wail and I was almost in triple digits before I knew it. I didn't realize the Tubi could make that much noise.